Short stalking rifle calibre.

M

Mrmjspice

Member
Hi all, I've been reading through tons of posts and haven't really found what I'm looking for...
I'm new to stalking, been a few times and used and estate rifle but am looking to put in for a variation so I can get my own.
It seems .270 .. 6.5CR .. .308 are the most common (from the dozens of posts I've read) but what I would like is a compact/short/light rifle as don't spend time in a high seat, I'm walking for hours.
I like the idea of the flat shooting, low recoil 6.5 but how short can you go in the barrel?
I've seen plenty of posts about 18 or even 16inch 308 but then you have the loopy trajectory which is like the avoid.
Then there's the 270 which I have been using and although I'm not fussed about a bit of recoil as I've only taken 4 shots max on a day, it would be nice to keep the animal in the scope once I've pulled the trigger.

So any advice on calibre / barrel length / make and model suggestions based on the above?

Thanks
 
The tighter the bore the slower the powder you need to stay within the safe pressure range, so a .308 can burn faster powders safely and be shortened with a lower loss in velocity. This is the reason my 25-45 can take the .223 case and make 1750 ft-lb, by burning faster powders than would be safe for an 80 gr .224 bullet in a .223.

If you’re not stretching the ranges then a 16” creedmoor will be fine, but you will lose velocity and some of the flatness of the trajectory.

Do you really need a short barrel? A 20” creedmoor would be a good compromise.

.270 in a short barrel is a bit of an oxymoron, it allows 30-50% more powder than the short action .308 family but you’ll get not benefit if you run out of barrel for the powder to burn in……
 
Yes, not so much on the cartridge but rifle + stock fit. Get the rifle to fit you properly, have a good consistent cheek weld and you will be able to stay on target during your shot. I doubt you will need to chop and change rifles (unless you want something else that is 😂)
 
I've got a 6.5x47 blaser r8. 20 barrel with an over all length of 36 inches. It is heavy for the size of it though. The shortness is handy for stalking through Atlantic rainforest
 
Some real world velocities for you.

rifleshooter.com

Barrel length – rifleshooter.com

rifleshooter.com rifleshooter.com

rifleshooter.com

Short barrel 16.5 inch 308 Winchester load development

In my opinion, there aren’t many guns cooler than a short bolt action rifle. I think my fascination started back in the 90s, before the proliferation of precision rifles, with an advertiseme…
rifleshooter.com rifleshooter.com

rifleshooter.com

6.5 Creedmoor Load Development: Short barrel (16.5″) suppressed and non-suppressed load development, 147 ELD and H4350

I’ve written quite a bit about short barrelled precision rifles. On this blog, I’ve built a variety of 308 Winchester, 223 Remington, 243 Winchester, 338 Lapua and 6.5 Creedmoor rifles…
rifleshooter.com rifleshooter.com
 
The flat-shooting reputation of the 6.5cm is something of a misunderstanding when it comes to hunting applications. At stalking ranges it's velocity that wins over efficient bullet design for flatness - the charts below are using "box spec" for two factory loads. See the 308 with a heavier bullet and worse BC is actually flatter, although there's little in it.
However, 308 is famously tolerant of a shorter barrell and will/might lose a bit less velocity than the 6.5.
Screenshot_20260223-063044.webp
 
Last edited:
SimpleSimon said:
The flat-shooting reputation of the 6.5cm is something of a misunderstanding when it comes to hunting applications. At stalking ranges it's velocity that wins over efficient bullet design for flatness - the charts below are using "box spec" for two factory loads. See the 308 with a heavier bullet and worse BC is actually flatter, although there's little in it.
However, 308 is famously tolerant of a shorter barrell and will/might lose a bit less velocity than the 6.5.
View attachment 461889
Click to expand...
Well I'm if I reading this right it looks like the 308 has less drop?

My main concern with the drop is it's just another factor to think of and as I'm new to stalking (not shooting) I want to try and keep it as simple as possible til I get more experience.
 
25 Sharps said:
The tighter the bore the slower the powder you need to stay within the safe pressure range, so a .308 can burn faster powders safely and be shortened with a lower loss in velocity. This is the reason my 25-45 can take the .223 case and make 1750 ft-lb, by burning faster powders than would be safe for an 80 gr .224 bullet in a .223.

If you’re not stretching the ranges then a 16” creedmoor will be fine, but you will lose velocity and some of the flatness of the trajectory.

Do you really need a short barrel? A 20” creedmoor would be a good compromise.

.270 in a short barrel is a bit of an oxymoron, it allows 30-50% more powder than the short action .308 family but you’ll get not benefit if you run out of barrel for the powder to burn in……
Click to expand...
The barrel doesn't need to be that short 20" would be fine, I didn't want a 24" flag pole on my back was all and didn't know if getting a 20" 6.5 is worth it or whether you can get another calibre to perform the same with a shorter barrel.
 
Mrmjspice said:
Well I'm if I reading this right it looks like the 308 has less drop?

My main concern with the drop is it's just another factor to think of and as I'm new to stalking (not shooting) I want to try and keep it as simple as possible til I get more experience.
Click to expand...
Get a .308 and stop worrying what type of stalking is it you’re likely to be doing open hill or woodland ?
 
I shoot a 6.5x47 from a Tikka 590 with an 18in barrel. I’ve shot reds on the hill to say 200yds and more recently roe in forestry to around 250yds, nothing I shot was aware that my rifle had a few inches ‘missing’ from the barrel. Personally I think a lot of folk overthink this sort of issue and for what I consider normal UK stalking applications the loss of a few fps in velocity doesn’t matter in any practical way. But what is important is that you actually know the bullet drop for your gun over the distances you are intending to shoot, that’s key, not what you read on here or the net generally. Stick up a target and whack it at a variety of normal stalking ranges.
Just buy a gun you like, that fits you well and is in a suitable stalking calibre and get out there and enjoy yourself!
hh
 
Let’s start here, do you reload or need factory ammo? Not, don’t hope to in the future 😂

If factory ammo, what is your allowance and will you be financially able to buy, say 200 rounds to hold on special calibre order, or will you be holding 40 ish and needing to top up regularly from a local shop
 
Mrmjspice said:
Hi all, I've been reading through tons of posts and haven't really found what I'm looking for...
I'm new to stalking, been a few times and used and estate rifle but am looking to put in for a variation so I can get my own.
It seems .270 .. 6.5CR .. .308 are the most common (from the dozens of posts I've read) but what I would like is a compact/short/light rifle as don't spend time in a high seat, I'm walking for hours.
I like the idea of the flat shooting, low recoil 6.5 but how short can you go in the barrel?
I've seen plenty of posts about 18 or even 16inch 308 but then you have the loopy trajectory which is like the avoid.
Then there's the 270 which I have been using and although I'm not fussed about a bit of recoil as I've only taken 4 shots max on a day, it would be nice to keep the animal in the scope once I've pulled the trigger.

So any advice on calibre / barrel length / make and model suggestions based on the above?

Thanks
Click to expand...
308 with a 16” barrel works just fine out to 250m for me.
 
HonestJohn said:
Let’s start here, do you reload or need factory ammo? Not, don’t hope to in the future 😂

If factory ammo, what is your allowance and will you be financially able to buy, say 200 rounds to hold on special calibre order, or will you be holding 40 ish and needing to top up regularly from a local shop
Click to expand...
I was hoping to be shooting factory ammo. I do have a press and dies and used to reload 308 when I used to do a lot of range days but would like to just buy factory ammo
 
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